APC internal crisis won’t stop its victory in 2019 — Boroffice

The senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District Senator Ajayi Boroffice, speaks with PETER DADA on the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress after its primaries

Some people have attributed the lingering crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress to the incompetence of the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. What is your view on this?

Fortunately, the Chairman, Adams Oshiomole, has been able to galvanize the party together. As of the time he emerged as the National Chairman of our party, the APC was already factionalized in about 25 states. The chairman inherited a lot of problems. Recently, he led the party to victory in Ekiti, Bauchi, Kastina, Kogi and Osun states. If he is not competent, how would he have achieved this? So, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is very competent and upright.

We learnt that the issue of automatic tickets given to some favoured aspirants including you is illegal and against the constitution of the party. What is your reaction?

Let me correct that insinuation. I was not given any automatic ticket. I have won senatorial elections twice without any offer of automatic ticket. Over 61,000 constituents elected and affirmed me as the candidate of the party. What happened was that all aspirants had engagement with the screening committee and the committee cleared only me for the contest like every other person, I was concerned when I heard the news. I had to do my findings and I was told that the disqualification of aspirants is connected to issues about party membership card, tax clearance certificate and National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate and it is clear that I have nothing to do with the issues that was why I won the ticket, so it was not automatic.

It was also alleged that you bribed the NWC of your party so that they could give you the automatic ticket. Can you react on this?

There was nothing like that. The NWC simply adopted the report of the screening committee.

Now that you have secured the ticket, how do you hope to win since Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has allegedly vowed not to work for you during the election?

Where did you get that information from? I am not aware the governor said that. That should be a rumour and I can’t be reacting to rumours. In any case, with the help if God and my political structure and the support of the good people of Ondo North Senatorial District, I am confident of victory.

Don’t you think the internal crisis rocking the party would affect the chances of the party in the general election in the state?

Political disagreements and internal crises are reoccurring issues in party politics. The party will come out stronger. I am in touch with aspirants and party leaders. We will work together for our party. There is no cause for alarm. Our party will still win the election.

It was alleged that you have made no effort to find solution to the bad roads in Akoko, what is your reaction?

I have drawn the attention of the Federal Government to the deplorable state of the roads. Sometimes ago, I raised the matter at the level of the Senate. In fact, the Senate Committee on Works visited Ondo State for on-the-spot assessment of the roads. I also sent people to the nooks and crannies of the state to take photographs and document the bad roads. The report was given to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. In the correspondence from the minister, the government raised the issue of funds. FERMA has been trying to fix some terrible parts of the roads. However, most of the roads need complete rehabilitation and reconstruction. It is time for Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the roads.

How is your preparation towards the general election in your senatorial district?

In Ondo North, we have a political structure that has won elections over the years. The structure is centered on our people in the 72 wards of the six local government areas. As a matter of fact, our political structure can win elections at short notice. But for now, Section 99(1) prohibits campaigns earlier than 90 days before the day of election. So, campaign has not commenced. By November 18, we will roll out drums and sing the message of consolidation to our people. We are confident of victory.

There was an allegation that in your two terms as senator, the people of Ondo North have not really benefited from you. What is your reaction?

That allegation is mischievous. I have facilitated projects to the 72 wards in Ondo North. To our credit, we have attracted many Federal Institutions to Ondo North Senatorial District; National Science Laboratory in Akungba, Bio-resources Development Centre, Technology Incubation Centre, Regional Centre for Leather Research, National Aerospace Laboratory and Regional Centre for Chemical Technology. I facilitated the construction of three state-of-the-art Skill Acquisition centres in Ikaram, Oka – Akoko and Ifon in Ose Local Government Area. Each centre costs over N100million. In the area of formal education, we built, furnished and inaugurated five blocks of classrooms at Ikaro, Oka, Obato and other parts of Ondo North. We installed solar-powered electricity street lights in more than 80 per cent of the 72 wards of Ondo North senatorial district. We also constructed more than 35 solar-powered boreholes in various communities of the Ondo North Senatorial District, namely Emure Ile in Owo LGA, Isuada in Owo LGA, Idogun in Ose LGA, Ayepe in Iwaro Oka, Ayegunle Oka, Sagari Village, Ikanmu – Oka, Ago Iwoye, Ikese Oka, Ikese opposite First Bank Plc, Ogbagi – Akoko, Fajuyi Street – opposite PHCN office in Owo, Ose, Oba – Akoko, Erusun – Akoko, Supare – Akoko, Arigidi – Akoko, Ipe – Akoko, Iboje – Oka and Ikaramu – Akoko among others. We have also installed over 25 electricity transformers located in various communities of the senatorial district. So, to say my people have not benefitted from me in the last eight years, is greatly mischievous.

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